Bubble-tower baffle plate



Jan. 14, 1930. v, F, R E 1,743,131

BUBBLE TOWER BAFFLE PLATE Filed Oct. 3. 1927 Patented Jan. 14, 1930 VICTOR F. GRACE, OE L08 ANGELES, CALIFORNIA I BUBBLE-TOWER BArrLE PLATE Application filed October 3,1927. Serial No. 223,662.

' use but the operating principle of all is substantially the same. The vapor evolved from the still is slightly cooled, causing its least;

volatile elements to condense,-this condensate remaining artly suspended in the remaining 10 vapor in the form of a fog or mist. This mist is then removed by scrubbing the vapor with collected quantities of the condensate which coalesces the mist'particles, while at the same time any lighter elements which may have condensed. with the heavy ends are reevaporat'ed therefrom. 1

In the certain type of dephlegmator known as the bubble tower the condensate is collected in shallow pans or trays arran ed in a stack in a tall, narrow shell. The con ensate flows downward from pan to pan,finally draining out at the bottom, while the vapor passes u wardly throughupwardly projectmg nozz es fixed in the bottoms of the ans, and underneath the submerged edges 0 bellshaped caps set over such nozzles. The vapors are thus forced below the surface of the layer of liquid retained in each an, and are repeatedly subdivided and scrub ed with v the hot condensate. This is all current practice and very well known and understood. t Theoretically these vapors bubble up smoothly and evenly through the liquid l'ayers, but because of variations in rate of vaper flow and othercauses there is often, if not always, considerable agitation and splashing on the pans b which the condensate, which is suppose to pass downward only, is projected upward into the overlying nozzles, and is thus carried upward rom tray to tray, materially reducing the effectiveness of the device. I have discovered that by interposin between the bubble pans a perforated ai'fle plate, the condensate s lashings are projected against the lower si e of this plate, from which thefy may be causedto drip downward instead 0 being carried up to t 0 next pan. The interposed surface, wet with condensate,

is also highly effective in coalescing the mist.

carried in the vapors and reducing it to a liquid body, and the action of the dephleg-' mator as a separating means is thus increased.

I have also discovered that if these ba'fl'lc. plates-have plain perforations through the flat metal, the upward velocity of the vapors through these perforations will carry the condensate'upward, whileif the edges of the perforations be turned downward as shown in the attached drawing the condensate colo0 lecting. on either face of the plate will pass to the nearest perforation and drip from the down-turned edge into the pan below, in. which it systcmaticall belongs. In the attached drawings, whic 1 are strictly diagrammatic Figure 1 re )rcsents a single bubble cap and a single per oration of my improved type immediately thereover.

Figure 2 represents a section of a bubble 7o tower showing threebubble pans with my improved plate over each.

Referring to .Figure 2, thb numerals 1-11 etc. indicate bubble caps of any preferred type, as for instance those shown on a largerseale'in Figure 1. 2.2 are the customary down-flow pipes by which the liquid levels 33 are maintained, any excess condensate flowing-downward through a pipe 2 to the pan below. 4-4 are m improved baflle plates in position between t e pans, and 5--55 etc., are my improved perforations therethrough. Referring to Figure 1, 6 is the down-turned edge of the perforation, the depth of this as depression be ng not less than the thickness 'of the plate and preferably about one-fourth the diameter of the hole. a

In these drawin s theupturn'ed arrows indicate the genera direction of flow of the vapors and entrained mist, while the down-- turned arrows indicate the direction of flow of such li uids as are projected against or separated y contact with 'the'baflle plate.

The area of the perforations 5 may be substantially equal to the area of the vapornozzles between the bubble caps. Or the combined area of the perforations iii each plate may be such that the velocity of the vapors passing the'rethrough will not be ma- I 2 manner terially highervthan :five lineal feet per second, as at higher velocities there is a tendency v for the liquids collecting on the lip of the perforation to be whipped E and carried up- I 5 Ward-with the vapor instead-of dripping downward.

It is also desirable to interpose the perforated plates about midway between the pans thoughthis is not essential. The distances 10 between the pans will be governed by their diameter and other considerations with which I am not here concerned. a

I claim as'm invention:

1. In a hub le tower dephlegmator; a

V splash plate interposed between apair of bubble plates, vapor rises on said plates each surmounted by a bubble cap, said splash plate having a perforation located substantially over each bubble cap in the bubble '20 plate next below and being otherwise substantially vapor tight.

' 2. In a bubble tower dephlegmator; a. perforated splash plate interposed between a pair ofbubble plates, vapor rises on'said plates each surmounted by a bubble cap, the perforations in said plate having downturned ed es and being located directly over the bufible caps-in the bubble plate next below.

In Witness that I'claim the foregoing I to have hereunto subscribed my :name this 22 day of September, 1927. v 'VICTOR F. GRACE. 

